Boot construction



Dec. 3, 1968 J. SPITERI BOOT CONSTRUCTION Filed July 1967 I N VEN TOR.JdJiPA/ si /r571 3,413,736 BOOT CONSTRUCTION Joseph Spiteri, 173 7thSt., San Francisco, Calif.

Filed July 5, 1967, Ser. No. 651,206 9 Claims. (Cl. 3654) ABSTRACT OFTHE DISCLOSURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention Thisinvention relates to human footwear, more particularly bootconstructions in which the body extends upwardly from the sole of theboot a distance sufiicient to surround the ankle of the wearer. Stillmore particularly, this invention relates to an improved tonguestructure for a boot specifically designed to insure a more comfortablefit by minimizing or precluding bunching, bulging, or wrinkling of thetongue in the area overlying the front and side portions of the ankle ofthe wearer.

This invention has particular utility when employed in conjunction withice skating or roller skating boots, but its applicability anddesirability extends to and is utilizable in any footwear in which thebody thereof extends upwardly to surround the ankle of the wearer.

Description of the prior art Heretofore, tongue structures for bootshave been formed from generally flat panels. Accordingly, when the bodyof the boot employing a conventional tongue is secured around the ankleof the wearer, the tongue of the boot usually bulges or bunches orwrinkles a substantial amount adjacent the front and side portions ofthe ankle, thereby creating a discomfort problem for the wearer, and asightliness problem as well. Attempts heretofore to minimize suchdiscomfort and sightliness problems have centered around covering theinner surface of the tongue with a layer of foam rubber or likecushioning material. However, such attempts have not satisfactorilysolved the problems to which they were directed.

With the improved tongue structure of this invention, the flexiblelocalized bulbous enlargements specifically provided on the tongue inthe area overlying the front and side portions of the ankle of thewearer impart added length to the tongue in the problem areas. Suchadditional length has been found to rectify the fit and appearanceproblems heretofore encountered with conventional tongues in thatsubstantially all tongue bunching or Wrinkling is obviated thereby.

So far as is known, the basic concept of this invention has not beenknown in the footwear art heretofore, and no prior art patents or otherdisclosures relating to this invention are within applicants knowledge.

nited States Patent SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present inventionrelates to footwear for humans in which the body of the footwear extendsupwardly around and surrounds the ankle of the wearer. Moreparticularly, this invention relates to an improved boot construction inwhich the boot body snugly surrounds the ankle of the wearer, withhighly improved fit over known constructions, in the area overlying thefront and side portions of the ankle of the wearer. Still moreparticularly, this invention relates to a boot construction in which animproved tongue structure is provided which minimizes or substantiallyeliminates bunching or bulging or wrinkling of the tongue in the areaoverlying the front of the ankle of the wearer, and in which an improvedappearance is imparted to the boot due to the general absence of suchbunching, bulging, or wrinkling.

In accordance with the improved features of this invention, the tonguestructure of the subject boot is provided with enlarged flexibleprojections which extend out of the plane of the otherwise generallyfiat panel from which the tongue is formed. In the embodiment disclosedherein, such bulbous enlargements are defined by panels secured in placeto fill in tongue openings provided when cut out portions are formed inthe tongue panel at opposite locations along the longitudinal edgemargins of the panel. Such cut outs and their associated fill-in panelsare located in accordance with the size of the particular boot in whichthe improved tongue is positioned so that such fill-in panels generallylie adjacent the bendable portion of the ankle located in alignment withthe ankle bone of the wearer. It is in such location in whichconventional tongues heretofore have been known to appreciably bulge orbunch to create the fit and appearance problems noted.

In a general sense, the bulbous projections provided increase thelongitudinal dimension of the tongue panel along the oppositelongitudinal margins thereof. Thereby, additional material in suchlocations is provided which compensates for and overcomes the tendencyof the tongue to bunch or bulge when the tongue is positioned inengagement with the ankle of the wearer when the body of the boot istightened in place during use.

From the foregoing, it should be understood that objects of thisinvention include: the provision of an improved article of footwear inwhich improved fit and comfort are provided; the provision of a bootconstruction which includes therein an improved tongue structuredesigned to minimize bunching or bulging in the area overlying the frontand side portions of the ankle of the wearer; the provision of animproved tongue structure in a boot which includes bulbous enlargementstherein along opposite longitudinal edge margins thereof; the provisionof an improved tongue structure in a boot in which bulbous enlargementsare provided therein by fill-in panels secured in cut out portions ofthe tongue; and the pro- 3 DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is anisometric view of a boot construction em bodying therein the improvedtongue structure of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a panel from which the tongue structure of thisinvention is formed which shows the cut out portions and the fill-inpanels to be positioned therein to define marginal enlargements;

FIG. 3 is a partial plan view corresponding generally to FIG. 2 showingthe fill-in panels secured in place in the cut out portions provided inthe tongue panel;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the completed tongue lookinggenerally in the direction of line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the tongue showing the generalconfiguration and contour such tongue takes when it is engaged with theankle of the wearer of the boot in which the tongue is positioned;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view through the tongue taken in the plane of line66 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a partial plan view on a reduced scale of a conventionaltongue which illustrates the bunching and wrinkling problems generallyencountered therewith dur- Ing use.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring first to FIG. 1, aboot construction, generally designated 1, is shown into which theimproved tongue structure 2 of this invention is incorporated. Suchtongue structure is secured in known fashion by its lower end adjacentthe toe of the boot by stitching 3, or other equivalent securing means.

The main body 4 of the boot projects upwardly from the sole and heelstructure 6 thereof and is secured thereto in any suitable fashion, suchas by stitching (not shown). The tongue 2 is positioned to close off theelongated opening 7 at the front of the boot which permits insertion ofthe foot of the wearer thereinto. The tongue 2 straddles and closes offthe opening formed between the opposed generally upright body portions 8and 9 which define the opening.

Means is provided to secure the boot body around the foot and ankle ofthe wearer. In the embodiment shown, such means comprises a cord 11which passes through openings 12 provided in the opposed portions 8 and9 of the body adjacent the toe of the boot and hooks 13 provided on suchportions at the upper ankle surrounding portion thereof.

The boot construction shown in FIG. 1 is generally of the type employedfor ice skates or roller skates, and this invention has particularutility when incorporated into such a boot because of the comfortablefit provided thereby. However, it should be understood that thisinvention is utilizable in any article of footwear employing anelongated tongue and a body which extends upwardly to surround the ankleof the wearer.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the tongue is formed from a generally flatpanel 16 of any suitable material, such as flexible leather, havinggenerally the outline shown which imparts its name to the tongue. Panel16 has a lower end 17 to be attached by the aforementioned stitching 3to the body of the boot adjacent the toe thereof as seen in FIG. 1. Atits upper end 18, the tongue is enlarged to fit around and cover asubstantial portion of the front and side portions of the ankle of thewearer when the boot body is tightened in place by the cord 11.

The improvement to the tongue of this invention resides in the provisionof selective flexible enlargements or projections at opposite positionson the tongue. Such enlargements are formed at locations along thelength of the tongue which overlie the bendable front of the ankle ofthe person wearing the boot. In the illustrated embodiment, such bulbousenlargements are defined by a pair of flexible fill-in panels, eachdesignated 21, which are secured in cut out portions 22 formed in thetongue panel 16 to extend inwardly a predetermined distance from theopposite longitudinal edge margins 23 and 24 thereof.

In the illustrated embodiment, such cut out portions are generallysemi-circular in outline and the fill-in panels are generallysemi-elliptical in outline, but it should be understood that such cutout portions and fill-in panels may take other configurations also ifpreferred. While rounded or arcuate cut out outlines are considered mostsuitable, it should be noted, of course, that rounded or arcuateoutlines are not necessary to insure effective results.

The fill-in panels 21 preferably are formed from the same type and colorof material as is tongue panel 16. As seen in FIG. 2, the fill-in panelscorrespond generally in basic outline to the outline of the cut outportions of the tongue in which such panels are to be secured. That is,if the cut out portions are arcuate or curved in configuration, eachfill-in panel is provided with an arcuate or curved edge 26 whichapproximates the contour of the border of the cut out portion. The outeredge 27 of the fill-in panel is provided with some slight curvature sothat the same may serve as a substantial continuation of an associatededge margin 23 or 24 of the tongue when viewed in plan, as designated bythe dotted lines 28 in FIG. 2. In comparison to its edge 26, eachfill-in panel edge 27 is substantially straight.

Still referring to FIG. 2, the cut out portions 22 together cooperate todefine a central tongue portion 31 therebetween. In the absence of theimproved tongue structure of this invention, considerable bulging orbunching during use could be expected across the tongue in the area ofthe central ortion 31.

While the extent of the cut out portions may and will vary, inaccordance with the particular size of the boot in which the tongue isto be positioned, it has been found that such cut out portions togethershould not constitute more than two-thirds of the total transverse widthof the tongue panel in the area described. That is, it has been foundpreferable that the central tongue portion 31 should constituteone-third to one-half of the total width of the tongue in that area.Good results are obtained when the central tongue portion constitutesslightly less than one-half of the total tongue width.

By thus controlling the extent of the cut out portions withinpredetermined limits, the desirable reduction in tongue bunching,accompanied by improved fit, is insured without adversely affecting theappearance of the boot when the same is in use. In this latter regard,by referring to FIG. 1, it will be noted that the fill-in panels 21 aregenerally completely hidden from view behind the opposed body portions 8and 9 of the boot when the boot is in use.

Again referring to FIG. 2, the cut out portions shown are formed with amaximum transverse dimension d and a maximum longitudinal dimension D.The respective fillin panels are formed with a maximum transversedimension d and a maximum longitudinal dimension D'. In this regard, thetransverse dimension d of the fill-in panels is only slightly greaterthan the transverse dimension d of the cut out portion of the tongue.Such transverse dimensional difference is provided to an extentsufiicient only to insure that the fill-in panel will underlie thetongue panel an amount adequate to permit the same to be secured inplace by a line of stitching 32. However. the longitudinal dimension Dof the fill-in panels is substantially greater than the correspondinglongitudinal dimension D of the cut out portions. It is such differencein longitudinal dimensions which permits the fill-in panels to providethe bulbous enlargements described when the fill-in panels are securedin place by the lines of stitching 32. Such enlargements are shown inFIGS. 4 and 5, with the FIG. 4 showing being exaggerated somewhat forpurposes of illustration.

As noted above, the dimensions of the cut out portions 22 and thefill-in panels 21 are proportioned in accordance with the size of theboot in which a given tongue is to be secured. By way of specificexample, in a womans ice skating boot, size 6 /2 A, acceptable relativedimensions for the tongue are generally as follows: overall tonguewidth, 3% inches; width of tongue center portion at its narrowest point,1% inches; cut out portion dimension d, 1 /8 inches; cut out portiondimension D, 2% inches; fill-in panel dimension d, 1% inches; fill-inpanel dimension D, 3% inches. The dotted line 34 seen in FIG. 2 on eachof the fill-in panels indicates the line on which such panels aresecured by the stitching 32 to the tongue panel 16. Such line 34, whileof different contour when viewed in plan from the line of stitching 32,is essentially of the same length as such line of stitching 32. When thefill-in panels are stitched in place along line 34, the bulbousenlargements result as described. The fill-in panels may be secured inplace other than by stitching, but such means is preferred. A manual ormechanical operation may be employed.

Referring to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the contour which the tongue takes whenit is positioned in a boot and the boot is secured around the foot andankle of the wearer is shown. It should be noted that the central tongueportion 31 when the tongue is thus positioned is gene ally free ofwrinkles or other unsightly and uncomfortable bunching. This conditionshould be contrasted with the exemplary view shown in FIG. 7 of aconventional tongue 36 which does not include the improved structure ofthis invention. The bunching and wrinkling, designated 37,characteristic of prior conventional tongues is shown therein.

The additional longitudinal extent imparted to the tongue along itsopposite edge margins by the flexible fillin panels provides the extramaterial required in the critical area overlying the front portion andadjacent side portions of the ankle of the wearer to preclude bunchingand wrinkling as described.

While it has not been shown in the attached drawings, it should beunderstood that the improved tongue structure of this invention may haveits inside surface covered with a suitable layer of foam rubber, orother cushioning material, to further enhance the comfort of the wearerof the subject boot in known fashion.

The foregoing disclosure is made by way of illustration rather thanlimitation, and modifications to the improved boot constructiondisclosed herein which may suggest themselves to persons skilled in theart after having reviewed the foregoing disclosure are considered withinthe spirit of this invention. The scope of this invention should bedetermined in light of the appended claims to which reference is nowdirected.

I claim:

1. An improved boot construction comprising (A) a sole and heelstructure,

(B) a body projecting upwardly from said sole and heel structure tosurround the foot and ankle of the wearer,

(1) said body having an opening toward the front of the boot to permitinsertion of the foot of the wearer thereinto,

(C) means positionable across said body opening to secure said bodysnugly around the foot and ankle of the wearer, and

(D) an elongated tongue secured to said body extending upwardly thereofto close off said opening, said tongue having (1) cut out portionstherein along opposite longitudinal edge margins thereof in the areagenerally in line with the ankle bone of the wearer, and

(2) flexible fill-in panels secured to said tongue in said cut outportions,

(3) said fill-in panels being larger in at least one direction than saidcut out portions and forming enlargements which project out of the planeof said tongue,

(4) said fill-in panels adapting said tongue to conform more closely tothe contour of the ankle of the wearer in the bendable front portion andadjacent side portions of the ankle when said boot body is secured inplace around such ankle, whereby bunching and bulging of said tongue isminimized and a more comfortable fit is insured.

2. The boot construction of claim 1 in which (E) said tongue has apredetermined transverse width at said area,

(F) each of said out out portions extending inwardly toward each otherfrom said opposite edge margins,

(1) each cut out portion having predetermined maximum transverse andlongitudinal dimensions,

(G) said fill-in panels having generally the same basic outline as saidcut out portions,

(1) the maximum transverse dimension of each fill-in panel beingslightly greater than the corresponding transverse dimension of itsassociated cut out portion to permit such panel to be secured to saidtongue,

(2) the maximum longitudinal dimension of each fill-in panel beingsubstantially greater than the corresponding longitudinal dimension ofits associated cut out portion so that such panel may form saidenlargement which adapts said tongue to better conform to the contour ofthe ankle of the wearer.

3. The boot of claim 1 in which (E) each of said cut out portions isgenerally semicircular in outline,

(F) each of said fill-in panels is generally semi-elliptical in outlinehaving one generally arcuate edge and another edge which is'generallystraight by way of comparison,

(G) each of said fill-in panels being secured to said tongue so thatsaid other edge thereof defines a substantial continuation of alongitudinal edge margin of said tongue.

4. The boot construction of claim 1 in which (E) said cut out portionstogether define a central tongue portion therebetween,

(1) said central tongue portion constituting approximately one-third toone-half of the total width of said tongue in said area.

5. The boot construction of claim 1 in which (E) said out out portionsand said fill-in panels secured therein are dimensioned so that saidfill-in panels are generally hidden from view by said boot body whensaid means snugly secure said body around the ankle of a wearer.

6. An improved boot construction which includes (A) a tonguepositionable between opposed portions of a boot body which define anopening therebetween,

(B) said tongue including bulbous enlargements which project out of theplane of the tongue when said boot is positioned to surround the footand ankle of the wearer,

(C) said enlargements extending inwardly toward each other from oppositelongitudinal edge margins of said tongue .and enlarging said tongue inthe longitudinal direction along said margins, so that said tongue mayconform more closely to the contour of the ankle of the wearer when theboot body is positioned therearound whereby bunching and bulging of thetongue is minimized to insure a more comfortable fit.

7. The boot construction of claim 6 in which (D) said tongueenlargements are defined by (1) opposite cut out portions extending intosaid tongue from said opposite edge margins, and (2) flexible fill-inpanels of a size larger than said out out portions secured in such cutout portions, 8. The boot construction of claim 7 in which (3) said cutout portions are generally semi-circular in outline, and in which (4)said fill-in panels are generally semi-elliptical in outline, wherebythe longitudinal dimension of said fill-in panels is substantiallygreater than the corresponding longitudinal dimension of said cut outportions. 9. The boot construction of claim 7 in which (3) said fill-inpanels together constitute approximately one-third to one-half of thetotal width of said tongue in the area in which said panels are securedto said tongue.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 970,393 9/1910 Raymond 36S42,210,430 8/1940 Post 3654 2,261,824 11/1941 Brady 36-54 PATRICK D.LAWSON, Primary Examiner.

A. R. GUEST, Assistant Examiner.

